Disaster and Deliverance, these
two
words sum up something of the message
of
both Joel and Obadiah. In Joel, the
prophet begins by announcing a disaster
in terms of a locust invasion, which
has
affected Judah. This, however, is but
the pretext for warning of an even
greater disaster on the horizon for
Judah. Nevertheless, the prophet holds
out the prospect of deliverance. In the
case of Obadiah, the focus is on Edom.
Edom's pride and longstanding hostility
against the people of God has led her
to
be party to an attack upon them, and as
a result, she is threatened with
disaster. The people of God, meanwhile,
are assured of better things at the
hand
of the LORD.These two prophets and
their
message of disaster and deliverance
will
both challenge and reassure all who
have
ears to hear.